Here is John Piper's "You will Suffer". In this video, John talks about losing everything when you follow God. At times, even your family.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--JiiuJNvt4I hate this aspect of following God. I weep almost everyday cause of the suffering but that's what the bible says. I don't make the rules.I also worry about the other side of the spectrum. The group of people that make raising a family an idol over loving God. My sister has a family with kids now. Ever since she has a family of her own, that family became an idol. All her actions are consumed with taking care of the family. She is so consumed by it that she denies it is the end times. She thinks the economy will bounce right back and everything will be normal again. She is also a pastor and has been a pastor for almost a decade.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
In light of Ephesians 5:25 and in the relation of the husband's love for his wife, this is a covenant which is paralleled with Christ's sacrificial love for His church. Abandonment is not an option, no matter how great the supposed "calling" is on a man's ministry. The Lord cannot contradict His Word and call a person to a ministry which will bring about a breach in the marriage covenant. This would be like Him dividing His own house against itself.According to scripture if a man cannot keep His own family in a holy balance, he has no business doing God's work. This includes covenantal relations with his wife as well as the behavior of his own children while under his roof. This is how I read scripture and I therefore agree with Greg and the others who have voiced apprehension concerning this person's ministry.Brother Paul
_________________Paul Frederick West
Keep the zeal + Keep the marriage = A just balance.I appreciate the gentleman zeal which is a great encouragement, yet I also appreciate Brother Greg's discernment which brings me a balance.pq*
_________________PQ
We do not know if the preacherman treated his wife badly. By the same logic, I cannot conclude that the wife became a devil worshipper, denounced christ and went off with a billionaire and left her poor husband. On what basis, are we making that conclusion? How do you guys know?Did David Livingstone neglect his wife also? Should he have just quit being a missionary and God's call and go back home.When does serving your wife become paramount to obeying Christ?So when the mark of the beast comes, should we just receive the mark so we can feed our starving family? Do we want the best life for our family in heaven or on earth?I understand that Ephesians 5 verse. Yes, we have to love our wives and most of the time, we will do that. But God sometimes cause not just the wife but the whole family to suffer. I hate that part about this christian life and I pray to God that no family will go through that.Please listen to the story of David Livingstone.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUl78SBbNFc
We do not know if preacherman treated his wife badly. On what basis, are we making that conclusion? How do you guys know? Did David Livingstone neglect his wife also? Should he have just quit being a missionary and God's call and go back home. When does serving your wife become paramount to obeying Christ? There is no deception on my part. So when the mark of the beast comes, she we just receive the mark so we can feed our starving family? Do we want the best life for our family in heaven or on earth? codek
armkellyI will not read your posts anymore because you refuse to read my points. You ignore my points, including the one about David Livingstone. You really need to watch the "you will suffer" video by John Piper that was put up by Sermonindex and maybe Greg himself.It talks about how following Christ will include pain and suffering, many times hardship will occur in the family, including the loss of family and maybe even a broken family. You are arguing on a minor point and your arguments now include statments about "marriages not existing in heaven". You are forgetting the central point which is our dedication to Christ MIGHT call us to forsake all. Until you see the central theme here, you're missing the point. It doesn't matter if we're married or not in heaven, and I'm not sure why you are arguing that.